Here is our top pick of things to do in Nottinghamshire this bank-holiday weekend and beyond, including the annual Robin Hood Festival at Sherwood Forest.

The annual Robin Hood Festival is returning for 2018, with a week-long, action-packed schedule including many traditional events for the whole family to get involved in.

Celebrate Nottingham’s favourite folklore fittingly with activities such as archery, pony-rides, live music and storytelling, stalls and magic. This year, the festival is being run by the RSPB, who will be providing many nature-themed interactive activities such as bug-hunting and nature connections. You and the family can even meet Robin Hood himself as he battles with the Sherriff outside the Major Oak!

You and your little superheroes are invited to a free, fun-filled adventure at the National Justice Museum as part of their Superhero Exhibition running from 28 July – 1 October. Guests are encouraged to dress the part – so get your capes and costumes ready. There will also be an opportunity to create your very own superhero badge.

You can also pay a visit to the Superhero Exhibition to learn more about your favourite classic heroes and villains and discover some newly-created diverse superhero collection’s such as ‘The Pride’, created by Joe Glass celebrating LGBTQ+, ‘Jubilee’, a superhero with a learning disability and ‘Miss Marvel’, the first Muslim superhero.

There are also additional family activities to take part in throughout the exhibition, such as arts and crafts, creating a giant Lego superhero and a poetry workshop.

Funded by Great Food & Drinks Festivals and hosting some of the UK’s biggest names in baking (such as GBBO winner Sophie Faldo and Mary Robbins of Channel 4’s Extreme Cake Makers), The Big Bake is back for the 4th year running and is taking place in Nottinghamshire’s scenic Newstead Abbey.

The event will include a variety of vendors and bars selling scrumptious baked goods, hot food and beverages catering to all diets (with some free testers up for grabs!) as well as homeware and gift stalls. Learn from the best with live cooking demonstrations by a plethora of professionals in the 600-seat cooking theatre. Fantastic prizes are also up for grabs for any keen bakers who wish to enter the competitions taking place throughout the day.

There will also be live music, children’s entertainment and cooking workshops on offer, making it a day for the whole family to enjoy.

All aboard Nottingham Industrial Museum! This bank holiday weekend a number of steam engines will be up and running in the Steam Hall and outside in the grounds. The exhibition will display Nottingham’s vast industrial heritage, from lace-making to mining and also an exploration of some of Nottingham’s largest home-grown corporations- such as Boots and Players. Automotive enthusiasts can spectate the model railways and tractors located outside.

Children under 16 enter for free and there will be a number of activities on offer to keep them busy- such as colouring competitions and badge making.

The fascinating and free on-site taxidermy museum will be open as per usual, as well as the stunning grounds surrounding the hall, home to hundreds of wild deer. So, (weather permitting), bring a blanket and make a day of it.

Nottingham’s annual Mela Festival holds its 30th anniversary this week throughout various areas in the city. The festival is a spectacular celebration of South Asian culture, providing delicious street food, art and mesmerising live performances over the course of the week.

Immerse yourself in South Asian celebrations, with creative activities, workshops, Bollywood and Bhangra dancing, live music and arts and crafts throughout Nottingham city centre. The mainstage will showcase a variety of artists including Soumik Dotta and Shin Parwana. There will also be a funfair to entertain the little ones. The week of festivities will be concluded on the 2nd of September with a family fun day in the Arboretum Park.

It is assured to be a culturally rich and diverse festival experience not to be missed!

Enjoy these things to do in Nottinghamshire and have a wonderful bank holiday weekend!